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Matthew Hill

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For other people named Matt Hill, seeMatt Hill (disambiguation).

Matthew Hill
Member of theTennessee House of Representatives
from the 7th district
In office
January 2005 – January 12, 2021
Preceded byBob Patton
Succeeded byRebecca Alexander
Personal details
Born
Matthew Joseph Hill

(1978-12-04)December 4, 1978(age 45)
Fort Wayne,Indiana,U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Amanda Nadine Jenkins
​
​
(m.2003)​
Children3
Residence(s)Blountville,Tennessee,U.S.
Alma materEast Tennessee State University
Mass Communications
(B.S.2003)
Northeast State Community College
(A.S.2001)
ProfessionTalk Show Host
Telemarketer
Franchisee
Politician

Matthew Joseph Hill(born December 4, 1978) is an Americantalk show host,[1]businessman, and politician who served as a member of theTennessee House of Representativesfrom 2005 to 2021.[2]Hill briefly served as Deputy Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives under appointment by House Speaker Rep.Glen Casada(January 8, 2019 through August 2, 2019).

Hill sought his own selection by the Tennessee House of Representatives as Tennessee House Speaker following both the drawn-out resignation of Speaker Casada amid an unfavorable no-confidence vote by the Tennessee House Republican Caucus and the widely reported news investigations of Casada's own political and personal scandals.[3][4][5][6]Hill subsequently lost his own 2020 Republican Primary bid in the Tennessee 7th House District "by a nearly two to one margin to political newcomer" Rebecca Alexander.[7][8][9][10]

Early life

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Hill was born inFort Wayne, Indiana,the eldest son of Evangelical Methodist Church of America Rev. Dr. Kenneth C. Hill and Janet Hill, and grew up in northeast Tennessee, while attending public, private, and home schools at different times as a student. Hill graduated from Tri-Cities Christian High School[11]and then went on to earn anAssociate degreefromNortheast State Technical Community Collegeduring 2001.[12]Hill later completed aBachelor of Sciencedegree inMass CommunicationfromEast Tennessee State University.[2][11]

Hill participated in the April 17, 1999 Bristol protest rally coordinated withInternational Action Centerinternational protests against the U.S. military intervention during theKosovo War.[13]

Hill married registered dental hygienist Amanda Nadine Jenkins in 2003.

At the time of his first campaign for theTennessee General Assemblyin 2004, Matthew Hill worked concurrently as operations manager of the Information Communications Corporation, Inc., while hosting "Good Morning Tri-Cities" onWPWT "PowerTalk" 870 AMfor seven years[11]Hill is a children's radio show host of the weekday broadcast of theBible Buddies WHCB Kid’s Show with Mr. Matthew[14]featuringChristian Rock musicand had formerly hostedThe Matthew Hill Show[15]nationally syndicated broadcast radio program that was also hosted online by the IRN USA Radio News network as a free archived podcast.[16][17]

His younger brotherTimothyis a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing the 3rd district.

Tennessee State Representative

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Rep. Matthew Hill speaking during 2008 Republican primary debate, Jonesborough, Tennessee

2004

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Hill was first elected to theTennessee House of Representativesin 2004 as a member of theRepublican Party.Hill was then a member of the Children and Family Affairs Committee, the Transportation Committee, the Domestic Relations Subcommittee, and the Public Safety and Rural Roads Subcommittee.

During the 2004 7th House District election, Hill was quoted by a local newspaper as stating that he "would only vote for an income tax if there was awar."[18]

2005

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A 2005 article withinBusiness Tennessee Magazinecited Hill as a "...firebrand political conservative," who "...championed social issues to recently get elected to the state House of Representatives representing Johnson City and Washington County."[19]

2006

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Hill was first re-elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2006, defeating Fred Phillips, former Washington County Sheriff and Tennessee Department of Safety Director, in the general election.[20][21]

Among the 2006 legislation sponsored by Hill in theTennessee General Assemblyis HB2921, authorizing (upon passage) "...the display, in county and municipal public buildings..., of replicas of historical documents and writings" including theTen Commandmentsreligious displays. Former Rep.Jerome CochranofCarter Countyintroduced HB2921 in the Tennessee House Constitutional Protections subcommittee[22]– of which Hill is not a standing member – and Hill's HB2921 legislation died peacefully in subcommittee.[23]

Another 2006 bill introduced by Hill, HB2924,[24]would make child rape acapital offense,punishable by death orlife imprisonmentand would cost Tennessee taxpayers over $15 million each year to carry out the proposal.[25]Hill's HB2924 failed in both the House and the Senate during the 2006 legislative session. The Senate version of Hill's child rape bill, SB2490, was sponsored by State SenatorRaymond Finney.Finney has stated since the defeat of both HB2924 and SB2490 within the Tennessee General Assembly that he "...does not plan to continue with his bill."[26]

2009

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Hill was among a handful of Tennessee General Assembly Members within the House of Representatives widely reported during 2009 as a "Barack Obama "birther" citizenship conspiracy theorist",demanding thatU.S President Barack Obamabe compelled to present Hill and other legislators with certified copies of Obama's Hawaiian birth certificate.[14]Hill interviewed the nationally noted "birther" conspiracy advocate Orly Taitz at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville for a February 10, 2009 segment podcasted online by the IRN USA Radio News network during "The Matthew Hill Show.[27][28]

2010

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TheNashville Scenereported on February 9, 2010 that Hill introduced his HB2683,[29]legislation that "...would transfer all commercial vehicle inspection and enforcement duties from the Safety Department to the Tennessee Regulatory Authority." TheNashville Scenearticle also observed that as Hill's father is a Tennessee Regulatory Authority Director, Hill's proposed TRA legislation would, "... In addition to all this new revenue from tractor-trailer tickets, the TRA and its directors also would gain fabulous new patronage powers under Hill's bill to fill positions outside of civil service for the next two years."[30]

Hill re-introduced Tennessee workplace legislation during 2010 as HB2685,[31]mandating that employees can only legally speak English at Tennessee workplaces.[32]

2011

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During 2011, Hill introduced hisHB1705nullificationbill (sponsored in the Tennessee Senate bySenator Stacey CampfieldSB1474) that would direct theTennessee General Assemblyto...appoint a committee to review all federal laws and regulations for constitutionality; requires the committee to submit for a vote of the general assembly all federal laws and regulations it deems to be invalid under the Tennessee or federal constitutions.[33][34][undue weight?–discuss]The U.S. Supreme Court in 1958 (Cooper v. Aaron,358 U.S. 1) ruled that attempts by state and local officials to nullify federal law amounted to a “war against the Constitution” and cannot be accomplished by an official “without violating his solemn oath to support it.”[35]

2017

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In early 2017, Hill and State SenatorBill Ketrongarnered national attention by proposing legislation that would free motorists of civil liability for running down political demonstrators.[36]

Hill amended a 2018 bill to strip Memphis of $250,000 after the majority-black city legally circumvented the Tennessee Heritage Protection Act by having opted to sell a parcel of land from a Memphis city park to a non-profit organization that immediately removed the statue of Confederate PresidentJefferson Davisand statue ofKu Klux KlanGrand WizardNathan Bedford Forrestfrom display on the former city-owned property.[37]

2019

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According to theTennesseanthe entity Dock Haley Gospel Magic online business Hill and his wife reportedly out of their basement is not registered as a business in Tennessee. Hill did not answer questions about if he has been paying taxes on the business. He stated that "'he has never made a dime'... 'it's mine and my wife's ministry'". According to the executive director of the state Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance, "a lawmaker should be required to disclose the business if it is producing income, even if it is being used to repay the previous business owner. Members of the General Assembly are always required to disclose sources of income over $200".[38]

2020

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The Tennessee State Capitol Commission convened on July 9, 2020 and, after consideration of comments made by the public and deliberation among the members, voted for the petition to the Tennessee Historical Commission "for a waiver that would allow for the relocation of the busts ofNathan Bedford Forrest,David Glasgow FarragutandAlbert Gleavesfrom their current locations on the second floor of the Tennessee State Capitol to theTennessee State Museum".TNGA Senator Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) and Hill, were the only votes against the removal of theNathan Bedford Forrest bustfrom the Tennessee General Assembly building.[39][40]

References

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  1. ^http:// whcbradio.org/ArticleViewer.aspx?ObjectId=12[permanent dead link]
  2. ^abMatthew Hill,Tennessee General Assemblywebsite
  3. ^Allison, Natalie."After 3 months of scandal, Glen Casada is no longer speaker of the Tennessee House".The Tennessean.RetrievedFebruary 23,2024.
  4. ^Ebert, Natalie Allison and Joel."Casada to step down as speaker in August, asks governor to call a special session".The Tennessean.RetrievedFebruary 23,2024.
  5. ^"Republican Tennessee House Speaker To Resign After Lewd And Sexist Texts".NPR.Archivedfrom the original on April 14, 2023.
  6. ^Martínez-Beltrán, Sergio (January 6, 2019)."The Tri-Star State: Meet Glen Casada, New Top Republican In Tennessee House".WPLN News.RetrievedFebruary 23,2024.
  7. ^"The rise and fall of a political wunderkind: Matthew Hill 2004-2020".WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.September 9, 2020.RetrievedFebruary 23,2024.
  8. ^Alund, Natalie Neysa."3 controversial East Tennessee legislators unseated in primaries: Hill, Van Huss, Staples".The Tennessean.RetrievedFebruary 23,2024.
  9. ^"Alexander defeats longtime state Rep. Matthew Hill in GOP primary".WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.August 7, 2020.RetrievedFebruary 23,2024.
  10. ^Floyd, David (August 25, 2019)."Hill out as deputy speaker, appointed chair of new subcommittee".Johnson City Press.RetrievedFebruary 23,2024.
  11. ^abcand with the Appalachian Educational Communication Corporation, Inc.WHCB 91.5 FM"sister station"Matthew Listens,Matthew Hill campaign website archived by Internet Archive on March 17, 2004
  12. ^https:// northeaststate.edu/Business-and-Community/Alumni-and-Friends/Outstanding-Alumni-Award-Winners/"Outstanding Alumni Award Winners"
  13. ^"Citizens Protest Bombings". April 18, 1999. Kingsport Times News. Bristol Herald-Courier.
  14. ^ab""Tennessee Republicans get more unstable by the day"".Archived fromthe originalon May 18, 2009.RetrievedDecember 19,2009.
  15. ^""The Matthew Hill Show: The Way Talk Radio Was Meant To Be!"".Archived fromthe originalon February 21, 2009.
  16. ^Internet Wayback Machine. IRN/USA News'The Matthew Hill Show'. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  17. ^"IRN USA Radio News Merger Gives Listeners 2500+ Air Waves of Fluff-free Radio: the Truth Listeners Crave"webwire
  18. ^"Patton, challengers square off in debate for District 7 House seat"Kingsport Times-News.James Brooks. April 16, 2004
  19. ^"30 Under 30".[permanent dead link]Business Tennessee Magazine.Orr, Ruble & Smirnov. February 2005.
  20. ^"Kingsport Times-Newsarticle on Fred Phillips challenging Rep. Hill in the 2006 Tennessee House election ".RetrievedDecember 18,2023.
  21. ^Phillips for the 7th
  22. ^"Kingsport Times-Newsarticle on Rep. Hill sponsoring Ten Commandments legislation ".Archived fromthe originalon March 3, 2016.RetrievedDecember 18,2023.
  23. ^"Kingsport Times-Newsarticle on the above bill dying in the House subcommittee ".Archived fromthe originalon March 3, 2016.RetrievedDecember 18,2023.
  24. ^"Limitations on Capital Punishment - Proportionality - United States Constitution".law.onecle.RetrievedDecember 18,2023.
  25. ^"Kingsport Times-Newsarticle on Rep. Hill's bill making child rape a capital offense ".RetrievedDecember 18,2023.
  26. ^Courier, The Bristol Herald."heraldcourier | Read Bristol, VA and Virginia breaking news. Get latest news, events and information on Virginia sports, weather, entertainment and lifestyles".The Bristol Herald Courier.Archived fromthe originalon May 23, 2006.
  27. ^"Nashville - Nashville Scene - Pith in the Wind - In State House, Another Obama 'Birther' Steps Forward".March 21, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon March 21, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 23,2024.
  28. ^"Nashville News - Tennessee Republicans get more unstable by the day - page 1".May 18, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon May 18, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 23,2024.
  29. ^"Tennessee General Assembly Legislation".wapp.capitol.tn.gov.RetrievedDecember 18,2023.
  30. ^http:// nashvillescene /pitw/archives/2010/02/09/a-state-house-zealot-shows-his-shrewd-sideA State House Zealot Shows His Shrewd Side
  31. ^Bills 106capitol.tn.gov
  32. ^Brandon Gee (February 24, 2010)."State Rep. Matthew Hill crafts English-only workplace bill".Nashville Business Journal.RetrievedDecember 18,2023– via Bizjournals.
  33. ^http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1705&ga=107"Bill Information for HB1705"
  34. ^Bills 705capitol.tn.gov
  35. ^https://supreme.justia /cases/federal/us/358/1/"Cooper v. Aaron, 358 U.S. 1 (1958)".
  36. ^Hickman, John (February 22, 2017)."To Kill A Protester".RetrievedFebruary 22,2017.
  37. ^"Tennessee lawmakers punish Memphis for removing statues".AP News.RetrievedApril 18,2018.
  38. ^Ebert, Joel; Natalie Allison."House speaker candidate's Christian magic supply business is not registered with the state".Tennessean.USA Today Network.RetrievedJune 20,2019.
  39. ^https:// tennessean /story/news/politics/2020/07/09/tennessee-capitol-commission-votes-remove-nathan-bedford-forrest-bust/5380243002/"Capitol Commission approves moving Nathan Bedford Forrest bust to Tennessee State Museum". July 9, 2020.
  40. ^https:// tn.gov/content/dam/tn/statearchitect/scc/Public%20Notice.pdf"Public Notice State Capitol Commission Petition for Waiver Relocation of Forrest, Farragut and Gleaves Busts".
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